Rankin County soldier wounded in Afghanistan welcomed home

A Rankin County soldier injured in Afghanistan came home for Thanksgiving on Thursday to a warm welcome.

Pfc. Cody Armstrong, a 2010 graduate of Northwest Rankin High School, was shuttled from the airport in Jackson in a motorcade to the high school, where he was met by more than 1,700 students with flags and signs welcoming him home.

"It feels pretty amazing to be here," Armstrong said. "All these people came out to welcome me home. It's a really good feeling -- it's all surreal."

While serving in Afghanistan earlier this year, Armstrong's vehicle was struck by an improvised explosive device, school officials said. Armstrong was injured and was evacuated through Germany to Fort Sam Houston in Texas.

Armstrong is the son of Northwest Rankin High School softball coach Mike Armstrong and Rankin County School District employee Lisa Armstrong. His sister, Amber Armstrong, teaches U.S. history at NWRHS.

Copyright 2012 byWAPT.com All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Forty years ago, one of the greatest boxing matches in history took place in an unlikely setting: the capital of the Philippines. Muhammad Ali's epic win over great rival Joe Frazier in 1975 became known as the "Thrilla in Manila."